Case studies : Manufacturing scientist: Caroline

Caroline graduated with an MChem (Hons) in Chemistry from Durham University. She attained a Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical Engineering Advanced Training (PEAT) from the University of Manchester and is studying part time to convert this into an MSc, sponsored by her employer. She currently works as a scientist in device industrialisation support at Pfizer.

I have been in this job for seven months but have worked on this project for over seven years in various roles. I chose a career in the manufacturing industry because I wanted to feel as if I contributed something to society. I chose the pharmaceutical industry as I wanted to make a fundamental difference to people’s lives, especially as I had been on the receiving end of treatment which changed my life. It is also very satisfying to be able to point to a physical object and say ‘I helped to make that’ or ‘that’s what I do, I help to make that’.

I first started working as an analytical lab technician but was made redundant after five months (welcome to the real world!). This came as a shock, but actually turned out really well. I still had contacts in job agencies and now had some experience to add to my CV. I got a three-month contract nearby which was in a slightly different field, testing medical devices in a lab, and intended to do this while I found a permanent job.

However, I really took to the job, finding the work interesting and the staff brilliant, and I was made permanent after my contract ended. The company was a group of 25 really bright and enthusiastic people and eight months after I started there we were bought by Pfizer. From then on, my career has progressed steadily, and I have been given the opportunity to take on more responsibility as my role has developed with the project.

In my first position, my subject of study was critical and I would not have been considered for the role without it. In my current role, my degree discipline is less important, and my colleagues have a vast array of degree backgrounds, from core subjects like chemistry and maths to palaeontology and forensics. A few do not have degrees but worked as apprentices and gained their knowledge that way.

I am currently involved on a project to develop a dry powder inhaler and spend quite a bit of my time interacting with suppliers. I might be visiting suppliers to assess the design of assembly equipment, talking to polymer suppliers about suitable materials, investigating defects seen during testing, or working out the best way to transport commercial quantities of parts. I love the variety that I see in my job and the different groups that I interact with, but ultimately, what really drives me is knowing that the products I am involved with will go on to really change people’s quality of life.